Sunday Evenings at the Gathering Place start Oct. 5 in Lakeside and will feature a variety of speakers and literary topics.

The first evening’s lecture will feature a lecture by author Eugene Peterson. The lecture is 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free.

Organizer Miles Finch asks, “Have you heard of C.S. Lewis, judged by thousands to be the best Christian apologist in the 20th Century?  Have you read anything by Henri Nouwen, a Catholic writer, also one of the last century’s best spiritual writers?  What about Diogenes Allen? Or Paul Tournier?  G.K Chesterton? Or Philip Yancey? (15 million of his books have sold so far.) Or Eugene H. Peterson, a resident of Lakeside? Author of over 35 books, his translation of the Bible alone--THE MESSAGE--has world-wide reach.

“Would you like following  a “guide” over short trails in these breath-taking literary landscapes?”

Finch, is willing to try guiding you. He would laugh (and others would, too) at any idea that he is a “scholar”. He did, however, graduate from Bigfork High School, Seattle Pacific University,  and Fuller Theological Seminary.  

He retired in 2003 as pastor (for 37 years) of New Life Christian Center in Polson, but continues to have enjoyment from  reading authors representing a broad scope of history and the church. Short passages from the writers listed above will be selected…plus readings from authors Ron Smith,  Ann Voskamp,  Francois Fenelon, and others as time will permit. THE MESSAGE will be the first choice. The origin of this translation, its purpose, a sample portion with insights it generates, will define this first evening.

The Gathering Place is a new venue created for just such a purpose. It is behind Lakeside Chapel.

A donation will be received by Lakeside Chapel for any expenses and for other “Gathering Place” ministries.